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Alcohol Awareness

WASHINGTON -- Any parent who reads the newspaper or
watches news on television has seen and heard horror stories about the
tragic outcome of excessive drinking on campus. Parents are frightened by
these stories and have every right to be.

As a resource, advisor and advocate for more than 32
million households with parents of current and future college students
throughout the United States, College Parents of America (CPA) shares this
concern. During this summer break, CPA is advising parents to talk with
their children about the impact of binge drinking on their lives and their
responsibilities to themselves and as peers. CPA also is negotiating for
possible insurance incentives for students signing pledges against binge
drinking and drinking and driving. In addition, CPA and the U.S. Department
of Education's Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention
are working together to further involve parents and other parties to combat
alcohol abuse on campus.

In cooperation with William DeJong, Director of the Higher
Education Center, and Linda Devine, Assistant Dean of Student Life at the
University of Oregon, College Parents of America is encouraging parents to
speak with their students about alcohol and offers the following eight
talking points.

Set clear and realistic expectations regarding academic performance.
Studies conducted nationally have demonstrated that partying may
contribute as much to a student's decline in grades as the difficulty of
his or her academic work. If students know their parents expect sound
academic work, they are likely to be more devoted to their studies and
have less time to get in trouble with alcohol.

Stress to students that alcohol is toxic and excessive consumption
can fatally poison.
This is not a scare tactic. The fact is students die every year from
alcohol poisoning. Discourage dangerous drinking through participation
in drinking games, fraternity hazing, or in any other way. Parents
should ask their students to also have the courage to intervene when
they see someone putting their life at risk through participation in
dangerous drinking.

Tell students to intervene when classmates are in trouble with
alcohol.
Nothing is more tragic than an unconscious student being left to die
while others either fail to recognize that the student is in jeopardy or
fail to call for help due to fear of getting the student in trouble.

Tell students to stand up for their right to a safe academic
environment.
Students who do not drink can be affected by the behavior of those who
do, ranging from interrupted study time to assault or unwanted sexual
advances. Students can confront these problems directly by discussing
them with the offender. If that fails, they should notify the housing
director or other residence hall staff.

Know the alcohol scene on campus and talk to students about it.
Students grossly exaggerate the use of alcohol and other drugs by their
peers. A recent survey found that University of Oregon students believed
96 percent of their peers drink alcohol at least once a week, when the
actual rate was 52 percent. Students are highly influenced by peers and
tend to drink up to what they perceive to be the norm. Confronting
misperceptions about alcohol use is vital.

Avoid tales of drinking exploits from your own college years.
Entertaining students with stories of drinking back in "the good old
days" normalizes what, even then, was abnormal behavior. It also appears
to give parental approval to dangerous alcohol consumption.

Encourage your student to volunteer in community work.
In addition to structuring free time, volunteerism provides students
with opportunities to develop job-related skills and to gain valuable
experience. Helping others also gives students a broader outlook and a
healthier perspective on the opportunities they enjoy. Volunteer work on
campus helps students further connect with their school, increasing the
likelihood of staying in college.

Make it clear -- Underage alcohol consumption and driving after
drinking are against the law.
Parents should make it clear that they do not condone breaking the law.
Parents of college students should openly and clearly express
disapproval of underage drinking and dangerous alcohol consumption. And,
if parents themselves drink, they should present a positive role model
in the responsible use of alcohol.

Talk with your student about alcohol. While parents may
not be able to actively monitor students away from home, they can be
available to talk and listen, and that is just as important. It can do more
than help shape lives; it can save lives.

Addressing Alcohol Through
Parents--The results of a study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse
and Addiction (NIAAA) task force on college drinking were released Spring
2002, and there are recommendations for parents. See
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/
for the complete report and recommendations